Fleuve-Montagne walkway will cost $13M more than expected

The City of Montreal has confirmed that the Fleuve-Montagne walkway, meant to celebrate Montreal's 375th anniversary, will cost $55.3 million $13.1 million more than anticipated.

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The walkway will run from Mount Royal to the Pointe--CallireMuseum, featuring widened sidewalks, more treesand public art. It was originally slated to cost $42.4 million.

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre says the bump in price is due to unforeseen underground infrastructure issues.

"I had a report saying that I had to re-do the underground for Sherbrooke [Street], that if I didn't do anything I would have major problems," he said.

'We're not getting bang for our buck'

Projet Montral leader Luc Ferrandez isn't sure the hefty price tag is worth it.

"We don't get any bang for our buck. This project is going nowhere. Basically, it's sidewalk enlargement in places where it will barely be noticed," he said.

He added that he thinks that the rising cost has more to do with a rushed timeline than underground infrastructure.

"There's some kind of ribbon-cutting fetishism, it has to be [done] in June, and therefore, since it's almost impossible to realize, the costs are going up and up and up," he said.

Ferrandez argues that Fleuve-Montagne's tight deadline led fewercompanies to apply for contracts, driving up the price.

3 contracts left to award

Since May, three construction contracts and one consulting contract have been awarded for work on the walkway, at a total cost of about $47 million.

The city says itstill hasthree more construction contracts to awardto finish the rest of the project.